Okanagan Military Museum
NEWS RELEASE
BCDNR –01.3 Mar 06
3 March 2006 –FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OKANAGAN’S ARMY RESERVE REGIMENT HONOURS OUTGOING AND INCOMING HONOURARY COLONELS
Kelowna, BC – The British Columbia Dragoons regiment will hold a Change -of - Appointment Parade at the Regiment’s Brigadier Angle Armoury location at 720 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna, beginning at 1:00 pm Saturday 4 March, 2006, to mark the transition of the Regimental Honourary Colonel appointment from Honourary Colonel Bernard J. Finestone, CD, C de G, to Lieutenant-General John (Jack) K. Dangerfield , CMM, MSC, CD.
A Regimental Quarter Guard, including members from all three squadrons based in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton, will be on parade to bid an official farewell to Honourary Colonel Bernard Finestone at the end of his term in the appointment. At the same time, the parade will be an opportunity to officially welcome Lieutenant-General Jack Dangerfield as the newly appointed Honourary Colonel for the Regiment. The Honourary Colonel fills an important role within the Regimental family as a senior advisor, role-model, mentor, representative and spokesperson for the Regiment.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Regiment as their Honourary Colonel and it fills me with pride to have been a part of their continuing tradition of service to our country and community”, stated Colonel Finestone. He added, “It is a great delight to be in the position to turn over my responsibilities and duties to Lieutenant-General Jack Dangerfield as he is well known to me as someone with personal and professional qualities of the highest order. I wish him well in his appointment and I am very happy that the Regimental family will benefit from his inclusion in it”.
Lieutenant-Colonel Clifford A. Jamieson, the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, stated his gratitude to Honourary Colonel Finestone for the contribution he made to the Regiment and echoed his enthusiasm for Lieutenant-General Dangerfield’s assumption of the appointment. “Honourary Colonel Finestone has helped guide the Regiment through a transition within Canada’s army reserves and has been there for all of us during those demanding times including our role in defending our community during the forest fire crisis of 2003. He has given freely of his time and effort and with his great experience has been an advocate for, and counsel to, the Regiment. Our best wishes go with him as he leaves this appointment but never the Regimental family he will always be a part of “.
He continued, “ Lieutenant-General Dangerfield’s willingness to assume the role of our Honourary Colonel has placed the Regiment in the enviable position of enjoying the services of yet another very fine and distinguished officer. As Commanding Officer I am very appreciative of the fact that I shall have his counsel and support in the years ahead and warmly welcome him into his position within our Regimental family. He brings with him a very impressive record of military leadership experience matched with a great deal of enthusiasm for his new role.”
Lieutenant-General Jack Dangerfield, who has had a lengthy and achievement filled military career as a senior officer in the Canadian Forces looks ahead to his role as Honourary Colonel. “I am deeply honoured to have been nominated and accepted for this appointment and shall endeavour, to the best of my abilities, to assist this fine Regiment as it moves ahead into the future.” Commenting on the future of the Regiment he added, “The British Columbia Dragoons will be at the forefront of the Canadian Forces reserves as they transition with the whole of our military forces to meet the challenges of this new century. I am confident in the Regiment’s ability to do so as it approaches its centennial in 2011 because of the heritage of service that has seen the Regiment evolve from horse-mounted infantry, through motorcycles, tanks, and wheeled armoured vehicles to their latest evolution into a light wheeled reconnaissance role. I look forward to riding with them into that future.”
Honourary Colonels in the Canadian Forces are appointed on the authority of the Minister of National Defence after a nomination process that balances many factors in the selection of candidates.
Media are invited to attend this auspicious and significant occasion in the Regimental life of the British Columbia Dragoons.
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For further information contact:
Captain Kevin Cmolik - BCD Unit Public Affairs Officer
Tel: 250-712-4230 (BCD Orderly Room)Commander Paul Seguna,
Canadian Forces Outreach Officer
Southern Interior BC
Tel: 250-558-5503
Cell: 604-790-0985
pseguna@shaw.caFor Bios on Hon. Col Finestone and Lieutenant-General Dangerfield go to links below:
BCD History:
